Microscopic and spectroscopic behavior of ZnO@MWCNTs composite

ZnO@MWCNTs nanocomposites synthesized by solid-state reaction route in different compositions are subjected to various characterization techniques to explore the modifications in the structure and properties of ZnO nanoparticles in the presence of MWCNTs for the photocatalytic, optoelectronics, and spintronics applications. XRD pattern confirms no change in the hexagonal crystalline wurtzite phase in the new system. While Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectra confirm the presence of defects like oxygen vacancies and Zn interstitial and their combinations, the porous nature of the surface and agglomeration of particles in the nanocomposite are evident from the SEM images. UV–visible spectra indicate an increase in the absorbance in the visible region but an insignificant change in the band gap with increasing MWCNTs in ZnO. The mixed magnetic behavior of the samples has been revealed from the SQUID study with low magnetization values in the synthesized ZnO@MWCNTs nanocomposite, indicating the diluted magnetic semiconductor nature of the materials.